Naia problems costs more than what you should Pay

Passengers suffer the most because of lack of strong initiative from authorities to improve the services offered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). Aside from poor infrastructure, there are two more problems that authorities must address as soon as possible for the sake of suffering passengers: runway congestion and abusive cabs.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) deputy director general John Andrews said that airlines lose more than Php7 billions a year because of fuel wastage while waiting for their turn to use the runway. At present, Naia only has one runway shared by four terminals.

This Php7b in airline losses can easily be passed on to passengers. Aside from increased ticket prices, passengers also have to struggle with drivers of the airport yellow taxis who overcharge passengers ruthlessly. Some would overcharge a flag down rate of Php70 plus Php4 per 300 metres while some will charge fixed rates without using their metres.

Authorities are stepping up to finally put an end to these problems. Caap said that they have already tapped Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Abaya in their plan to construct a second runway that can boost take-off and landing capacity by 50%.

A second runway is seen as a faster solution to the congestion in Naia rather than long-term proposals like San Miguel’s new airport and a 5th terminal. However, this would entail the dispossession of land from squatters and private homeowners near the airport.

Mindanao representatives and brothers Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez Junior meanwhile passed House Resolution 1028 that aims to put an end to abusive cab drivers. The resolution invites officials from the DOTC, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and other stakeholders in a public hearing on the issue.